23 July,2026 07:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Sarthak Mehta
A large crowd of students and supporters marches through Dadar during Wednesday’s protest in support of the CJP’s education reforms movement
At least 500 people participated in a protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Chembur on Wednesday. Protesters started gathering around the protest site, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Udyan, around 11 am, and the demonstration organised by FG Foundation officially began at 1 pm. By 2 pm, the crowd had peaked with participants from several backgrounds, including students, activists, and Ambedkarites.
Police personnel escort a protester away during the student demonstration near Shivaji Park in Dadar on Wednesday. Pics/Atul Kamble
An on-duty police officer said there were at least 500 participants, while another said the count was over 2000. No official figure was provided. The protesters raised their voice holding the Constitution of India, placards targeting Pradhan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the tricolour, and blue Jai Bhim flags in hand. The gathering also clapped and recited the national anthem while they were dealing with the police officials.
The protest organised at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Udyan. PIC/SARTHAK MEHTA
As per a senior police official, more than 150 police personnel were deployed at the spot to maintain law and order. "No major violence erupted, and the police didn't use any force," said the official.
Students and political party workers protest in Vashi. The students said their fight is for transparent examinations and education reforms - not political point-scoring. Pics/Abhitash Singh
Mumbai Police's Additional Commissioner of Police East,
Dhananjay Kulkarni, was leading the security arrangements. A senior Mumbai Police official said at least 50 protesters were detained. "We are still processing them, but the count is way more than 50."
The protest organised in Chembur by NGO FG Foundation on Wednesday. PICS/SARTHAK MEHTA
The majority of the crowd that had gathered suddenly dispersed around 3.30 pm, but hundreds of protesters regathered at the spot at 4.20 pm, and the protest continued till 4.45 pm when DCP (East Zone 1) Sameer Shaikh convinced the organising NGO's President Atish Ghokshe and his associate Aman Ambedkar (great-grandson of Dr BR Ambedkar) to officially halt the protest. Following the organisers' request, the gathering dispersed, clearing the site by 5 pm. Protesters continued marching in the lanes of Chembur, and mid-day last recorded them around 5.30 pm.
The protest was largely contained on the footpaths and private premises by the police. Traffic was moving through the spot but slower than usual. A portion of the gathering came on the roads multiple times, but law and order was promptly restored by the active police personnel and several cordial protesters.
As a shopkeeper assessed a damaged railing in the aftermath of the protest, a lady who was part of the demonstration was seen picking up trash after the crowd dispersed. "I don't want people blaming my kids for this trash thus I am here taking care of it myself," said Chembur resident Bobby Saini, 45.
Jyoti Jekte, 40, Chembur resident
âMy son Vedant is 17 and a Std XII student. I had told him to wait till I got back from the hospital, after which we both could go, but by the time I got back, he had gone to the protest site. When I arrived at the site, I saw my son being detained. I requested them multiple times, saying that he was a minor, but they didn't listen. Responding to Jyoti's concerns, a police official told her to calm down. "Nothing will happen to your son; he will be freed shortly," said the police official'
The crowd dispersed around 3.30 pm after a fake resignation letter of Dharmendra Pradhan was shown at the protest site by an unidentified man. "The man urged the protesters to end the demonstration as the demands were met. After a few people left the gathering with uncertainty, many followed, and the site was cleared in a domino effect," said Zainul Shaikh, 23, a Chembur resident. "We made a few online searches, checked CJP's socials, and realised that it was a misleading ploy. After this, hundreds of us regathered at the site within half an hour," stated Riyaaz Shaikh, a Malad-based law student.
Adv Atish Ghokshe, 29, activist, president of FG Foundation NGO
âWe had announced this protest in solidarity with students and for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan two days back through social media platforms. We didn't have any written permission but we are protesting because we believe right to protest is one's constitutional right. I know CJP leader Ahire-ji, but this was not a CJP protest. This was a successful citizens' gathering which saw voluntary presence from students, parents, activists, Ambedkarites including Aman Ambedkar, and CJP followers. Our aim and mission are common. On Wednesday, after multiple requests from the police, we halted the protest around 4.45 pm. The police assured us that minors detained won't be booked and that everyone detained will be freed'
Dr Ankita and Dr Swapnil, protesters
âWe, husband and wife, are doctors. We know how tough and anxious the NEET examinations are. Accountability from the government is a must because these leaks affect students in the most severe ways possible. Even the post-exam procedure for NEET super-speciality examination is currently delayed⦠30-year-old doctors are forced to sit at home worried about their college counselling prospects.'
Semtika Maurya, 29, architect, Chembur resident
âI have been to all the student protests of Mumbai; this is my fourth. My family has a lot of advocates, so advocating for what is right comes naturally to me. Some media outlets are trying to malign the protests; thus we have grown insecure about media coverage'
Sujal Bhosle, protester
âI have been here since morning and was detained for an hour before a local leader came in and requested our freedom. I will continue protesting because I believe that our education system needs reforms and students' concerns are valid'
Bani Ansari, 20, student, Ghatkopar resident
âThis is my first protest, and I am very nervous. I find students' concerns valid, and accountability is a must. This is why I stand here with this placard âEk din education resign kar degi, aur minister reh jayega'
Afeefa Shekh, NEET student
âI live beyond Kalyan and have come along with my younger sister. My father wasn't supportive of us coming here, so I had to lie to him. My mother is in the loop. The duration between the NEET cancellation and re-NEET was very bad for me. I couldn't focus on my studies as I was very anxious. I am sure my re-NEET score would be lower than what I could have scored in the first attempt. I am here to demand accountability for the government's failures'
50
Approximate no of people detained
